Helen Davidson
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heldavidson.bsky.social
Helen Davidson
@heldavidson.bsky.social
Foreign correspondent for the Guardian in Taiwan. Via Guardian Australia covering immigration and the Pacific and three wild years as the Northern Territory corro.
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/helen-davidson
helen.davidson@theguardian.com
"This isn’t about sudden escalation; it’s about China normalising actions it once restrained itself from taking,” said Song Bo, a fellow at Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy.
November 12, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Reposted by Helen Davidson
Single mothers in China find a new kind of partner – other single mothers
Single mothers in China find a new kind of partner – other single mothers
Posts from women seeking like-minded parents to share a home and child-rearing responsibilities are appearing on social media
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Reposted by Helen Davidson
As divorce rates rise and the cost of living bites, single mothers in China are searching for a new kind of partner: each other. @heldavidson.bsky.social reports:

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Single mothers in China find a new kind of partner – other single mothers
Posts from women seeking like-minded parents to share a home and child-rearing responsibilities are appearing on social media
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Reposted by Helen Davidson
October 30, 2025 at 2:46 AM
“In 30 years working [in the favelas] this is the greatest act of savagery, the biggest massacre I have seen."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o... By @tomphillips.bsky.social in Rio
‘This was a slaughter, not an operation’: the favela reeling from Rio’s deadliest police raid
Residents of Vila Cruzeiro gather bodies after more than 130 were killed in pre-dawn assault
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Reposted by Helen Davidson
Spotify makes billions in revenue and pays artists a pittance. Now to make matters worse, they've been caught boosting AI generated fake music to compete with real musicians.
They need to stop the rip off and Pay Up!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
An AI-generated band got 1m plays on Spotify. Now music insiders say listeners should be warned
The Velvet Sundown released two albums before admitting their music, images and backstory were created by AI
www.theguardian.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:42 AM
China’s fifth-ranking official was suspect in dropped Westminster spy case. By @amyabides.bsky.social and Dan Sabbagh

Person who was thought to have received intelligence is understood to be Cai Qi, de facto chief of staff to Xi Jinping
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
China’s fifth-ranking official was suspect in dropped Westminster spy case
Person who was thought to have received intelligence is understood to be Cai Qi, de facto chief of staff to Xi Jinping
www.theguardian.com
October 3, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Reposted by Helen Davidson
Gym bros, monks, retirees: thousands descend on Taiwan town to clean up after devastating flood
Gym bros, monks, retirees: thousands descend on Taiwan town to clean up after devastating flood
Trains packed with volunteers arrive at tourist town of Guangfu, days after typhoon sent millions of tonnes of mud and water crashing through its streets
www.theguardian.com
October 2, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Reposted by Helen Davidson
Jerome Cohen, the "Evergreen Pine of Rule of Law in China," Remembered
Jerome Cohen, the "Evergreen Pine of Rule of Law in China," Remembered
The death of Jerome Cohen last week at the age of 95 prompted a wave of tributes to the legendary professor of Chinese law. Outside legal circles, Cohen may have been best known for his involvement in...
chinadigitaltimes.net
October 1, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Reposted by Helen Davidson
People can still be kind 👍 - great dispatch and pics from Helen Davidson www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Gym bros, monks, retirees: thousands descend on Taiwan town to clean up after devastating flood
Trains packed with volunteers arrive at tourist town of Guangfu, days after typhoon sent millions of tonnes of mud and water crashing through its streets
www.theguardian.com
October 1, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Reposted by Helen Davidson
It's worth reminding Americans that one of the things that chilled Japan Inc's involvement in China was the risk that the PRC would detain its workers, so you really can't underestimate the chilling effect the Hyundai raid will have on foreign investment
Following the Hyundai raid, LG Energy Solution suspended most business trips to the US and directed employees to return home immediately. It comes less than two months since South Korea committed $350B in US investments, including a $26B Hyundai steel mill in Louisiana.
September 8, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Reposted by Helen Davidson
WOW. China is drilling for oil and gas inside Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone, a move that analysts believe is likely part of Beijing’s unilateral grab for disputed territory.

Great scoop from @heldavidson.bsky.social and @thejamestownfdn.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
China drilling for oil and gas inside Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone
Exclusive: Experts say the move could be part of Beijing’s ‘greyzone’ grab for disputed territory
www.theguardian.com
September 4, 2025 at 1:54 AM
People living near Tiananmen Square were even banned from cooking on Wednesday morning — on account that any smoke could haze up the sky — and instead were given breakfast packs of hard-boiled tea eggs, bread rolls and spicy Sichuan pickles. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
China’s Xi, flanked by Putin and Kim, shows off ‘new generation’ weapons
As Xi Jinping declared China as a nation “never intimidated by bullies,” President Trump urged him to acknowledge the United States’ support in winning World War II.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 4, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Reposted by Helen Davidson
You know that boat the administration blew up? A former law enforcement official told the NYT the boat seemed to be carrying not drugs but *’migrants *
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/u...
September 4, 2025 at 12:32 AM
My wrap on China's military parade today: A new photo for the history books as Xi, Putin and Kim arrive together, warnings of peace and war, a lot of big shiny military hardware, and a definitely not mad Trump
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Xi Jinping says world faces ‘peace or war’, as Putin and Kim join him for military parade
Trump criticises victory day event as China caps off week of diplomatic grandstanding seen as rebuke to west
www.theguardian.com
September 3, 2025 at 8:16 AM
I reckon this from @emoontw.bsky.social on leaving Taiwan (and its media scene) is worth a read

theeastandback.substack.com/p/my-great-t...
(My) Great Taiwan Recall
One era ends, another begins.
theeastandback.substack.com
September 3, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Military reveals and bold messaging: five key takeaways from China’s big parade
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Military reveals and bold messaging: five key takeaways from China’s big parade
A highly choreographed display and formidable guest list were designed to send a message to the US and its allies about China’s strength
www.theguardian.com
September 3, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Reposted by Helen Davidson
China drilling for oil and gas inside Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone – The Guardian: ‘However, there is no sign of the Taiwan government having responded to it, despite frequently enforcing its EEZ elsewhere.’
China drilling for oil and gas inside Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone
Exclusive: Experts say the move could be part of Beijing’s ‘greyzone’ grab for disputed territory
www.theguardian.com
September 2, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Exclusive from me: China drilling for oil and gas inside Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
China drilling for oil and gas inside Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone
Exclusive: Experts say the move could be part of Beijing’s ‘greyzone’ grab for disputed territory
www.theguardian.com
September 3, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Racers kidnapped with giant nets and ransomed. Others smuggled on to high-speed trains to get to the finish line faster. Performance enhancing drugs. Millions in alleged gambling.

Our story on the wild world of Taiwan's pigeon racing, with pics by An Rong Xu www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Drugs, smuggling and abductions: inside the fast and furious world of pigeon racing in Taiwan
Low regulation and high stakes mean Taiwanese pigeon racing is awash with cheating – but efforts are afoot to clean up the sport
www.theguardian.com
August 29, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Revealed: Israeli military’s own data indicates civilian death rate of 83% in Gaza war www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Revealed: Israeli military’s own data indicates civilian death rate of 83% in Gaza war
Figures from classified IDF database listed 8,900 named fighters as dead or probably dead in May, as overall death toll reached 53,000
www.theguardian.com
August 21, 2025 at 1:31 PM